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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S5W-33481

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 November 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 23 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome is of its latest review of border health measures, and whether there will be any changes to the regulations.

Question reference: S5W-32929

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 30 October 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 2 November 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome is of its latest review of border health measures, and whether there will be any changes to the regulations.

Question reference: S5O-04692

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 October 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take in relation to hospitality and other businesses that may be treating their staff unfairly during the lockdown restrictions.

Question reference: S5W-32545

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 October 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jeane Freeman on 15 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when the role of the Independent National Whistleblowing Officer (INWO) for NHS Scotland will be established, and when the new Whistleblowing Standards, developed by the SPSO, will come into effect.

The role of the INWO will be implemented with effect from 1 April 2021. This new role, which is the first of its kind in the UK, will provide a mechanism for external review of how a Health Board, primary care or independent provider has handled a whistleblowing case.

The role was originally due to go-live in Summer 2020 but this was revised in view of the current pandemic and in consultation with the Scottish Public Sector Ombudsmen. We have continued to engage with the SPSO and we have balanced the need to timeously deliver the commitment of the INWO whistleblowing measure with the need for our Health Service to prepare for its implementation, particularly in view of the remobilisation plans, the ongoing pandemic and winter pressures.

The Public Services Reform (The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman) (Healthcare Whistleblowing) Order 2020 extends the powers of the SPSO, to take on the role of the INWO. These powers also allow the SPSO to set a ‘model procedure’ for handling whistleblowing concerns raised by staff and others delivering NHS services. The Standards have been developed by the SPSO who engaged closely with key stakeholders from the NHS, Scottish Government, whistleblowing specialists as well as whistleblowers.

The Standards will be formally published when the INWO goes live on 1 April 2021. For NHSScotland staff, these will form the ‘Once for Scotland’ Whistleblowing Policy that will go-live at the same time. In view of the legislative requirements that Health Boards will need to prepare for there will be an implementation period of 3 months, supported by SPSO in advance of the INWO go live date.

SPSO and Scottish Government continue to liaise with stakeholders to prepare for implementation.

Until 1 April 2021, the current processes and procedures remain in place and both the Scottish Government and SPSO will be working on communications to ensure this is understood.

Question reference: S5W-32448

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 October 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 9 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome is of its latest review into border health measures, and whether there will be any changes to the regulations.

Question reference: S5W-32223

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 October 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Maree Todd on 2 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are for publishing the British Sign Language Progress Report, which is due by 24 October 2020.

The COVID-19 crisis has prevented the engagement activity and evidence-gathering required to inform the BSL Progress Report. Engagement was planned with BSL users across Scotland, and through engagement by the BSL partner organisations. In addition, the Scottish Government has focused all activity on mitigating the impacts of COVID-19.

Therefore, for the reasons given, Scottish Ministers have taken the decision to postpone the publication of the Progress Report. It will be published as soon as reasonably practicable. It is anticipated that this will be by 24 October 2021 in order to allow for the necessary public engagement.

This does not mean that work around BSL is being paused – we remain fully committed to the actions set out in the BSL National Plan, and will continue work to make progress on our shared outcomes.

Question reference: S5O-04666

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the provision of superfast broadband in the Strathkelvin and Bearsden constituency.

Question reference: S5O-04651

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed with SEPA how to tackle the reportedly increasing problem of flooding in Scotland's communities.

Question reference: S5W-31965

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 September 2020
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Humza Yousaf on 22 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome is of its latest review into border health measures, and whether there will be any changes to the regulations.

We have continued to review the health measures closely over the last three weeks and have assessed that there remains a requirement for them to remain in place to reduce the risk of transmission and safeguard health. There will be no changes to the regulations at this stage, but we will continue to review both the country and sector exemptions on an ongoing basis and make any future adjustments as necessary.

Question reference: S5T-02371

Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 07 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the Scottish Affairs Committee report on safe drug consumption facilities.